Results 8,081-8,100 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Last night, Fianna Fáil Deputies tried once more, with the help of Sinn Féin, to create a smokescreen to deflect attention from their appalling record on planning. Deputy McGrath was a member of Fianna Fáil as well.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: With goldfish-like memories, they have already expunged the criticisms so damningly levelled at their party by the Mahon tribunal. The Government has not forgotten and will not forget.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Since the Mahon report was delivered in March, the Fianna Fáil Party has seized on the planning review, which was initiated when it was in office but was not followed through, as a means to deflect attention from the fact that during its time in government it rode roughshod over proper planning and sustainable development at local and national levels.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I prefer to take the time this evening to focus on the report and not waste more time rehashing the litany of planning catastrophes for which Fianna Fáil has been responsible.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The starting point for the review dates back to June 2010 when the then Minister, former Deputy John Gormley, announced an independent review involving seven local authorities. When he left office more than seven months later, he had still not commenced the reviews. What he had done was issue a request for tenders for the carrying out of a review and issue letters to potential panellists...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: He left office in January 2011 before appointing a single expert. It must be made clear that the suggestion that he had instigated an independent investigation before he left office and that this was subsequently downgraded is not the case. However, that does not suit the argument.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is incorrect even to suggest that he had investigations in mind in the first instance. His announcement in June 2010, when he was in government with Fianna Fáil, referred to a planning review, not an investigation. His proposed review had not been commenced. It was intended to be a review rather than an investigation. No contract had been awarded, no preferred tenderer had been...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The seven authorities had been selected by John Gormley, he had set the parameters for the review and he had selected the issues in each case to be reviewed. He did nothing more. Our rigorous review, which was carried out by the Department and which we will now subject to full independent scrutiny, showed no evidence whatsoever of corruption or malfeasance. The decision made by the former...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: A Cheann Comhairle, ask the Deputy to withdraw that.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Withdraw that remark.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I ask the Deputy to withdraw that remark.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Withdraw the remark.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Has the Deputy withdrawn the remark?

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is in Kilkenny.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: One is enough.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: Members were going well until then.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 455 of 12 June 2012 which outlines the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 156 together. The programme for climate policy and legislation which I published on 23 January 2012 set out my approach to the development of national policy and legislation over an 18 month period. The principal milestones include: - a public consultation (which ran from 29 February to 1 April 2012); - in the second half of this year, the...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. As previously indicated, the Central Bank, acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance, engaged PwC to carry out inspections of dormant accounts over a two year period. I did not authorise the PwC inspections under the Dormant Accounts legislation and the Central Bank was, in the circumstances, acting on its own authority. I therefore...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (13 Jun 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an owner of a residential...